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Badmovies.org Forum  |  Other Topics  |  Off Topic Discussion  |  Truckers Strike « previous next »
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Author Topic: Truckers Strike  (Read 2991 times)
lester1/2jr
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« on: April 09, 2008, 10:08:15 AM »

I went to this real cheap o summer camp once where the counselors played a vinyl copy of the song "Convoy" constantly.  Granted, it's a cool song but I was pretty tired of it after a while.  Nowadays, things are less glamorous for the trucking industry.  This is largely due to the increase in fuel prices.  eventually it got to be too much and recently the truckers have called for s strike and it appears to be picking up steam nationwide.   While there is more worldwide demand for fossial fuels,  the sinking dollar has added quite a bit of fuel to the fire if you will.  as has specualtion regarding wars in the middle east.  85 or 90 dollars a barrel would be the more natural level without these issues, maybeless.  it was 26.67 when Bush took office.

Local truckers join strike

By Stephanie Nelson
For Cindy and Ric Riley, a trucker strike makes perfect sense.

Rumors of a nationwide trucker strike have flooded the news in recent days. Truckers, like many Americans, are fed up with high fuel costs.

Many truckers are spreading word of a strike through Internet blogs and over their CB radios, encouraging everyone to put their trucks in park in order to send the message to U.S. oil companies and the federal government.

The Andalusia couple, who have been in the trucking business for 16 collective years, said the rising fuel costs have hit home where it hurts the most - in their wallets.

"We came home Monday night at around 11 p.m. and have been shut down since, with no plans to return to work until next week," said Cindy Riley. "Although we do not own our own truck, fuel costs do impact our earnings as well as the other costs of life on the road, from meals to motels; everything has gone up in price."

The reason, Riley said, is a domino effect.

"It all goes back to transportation costs," she said. "The trucking industry has been fighting rising fuel costs for years, but the recent skyrocketing of diesel fuel is forcing many independent operators and small fleets out of business.

"Everyone sees so many trucks from the major carriers like Swift and J. B. Hunt, that they don't realize that independent truckers and small carriers (which are companies owning less that 50 trucks) make up over 80 percent of the industry."

Riley said as company drivers, they spend a lot more time waiting to transport a shipment now that those fuel costs are higher.

"The way that it works is if the shipper can't or won't increase their rate of pay to compensate for fuel, then the company can't afford to haul the load, so we have to sit and wait for the better-paying offer even though when we are waiting for a load we are not getting paid," she said. "Thus our weekly average has dropped from 5,800 miles to around 4,400 miles."

Riley said the truck averages 5.2 to 6.8 miles-per-gallon, depending on the load.



"And as if that's just not enough, when you come home and find the price of milk and bread has doubled, or discover that the automobile tires you bought last year for $100 each, now cost $137, what are we supposed to do?" she asked.

Diesel this week was at an average just shy of $4 a gallon according to the American Trucking Association. If a trucker is filling up a 300-gallon semi, that bill could top $1,200.

Riley said steps must be implemented to help all consumers fight the rising costs of gas.

"We are all, as consumers, making changes in our lifestyles and purchasing habits and it all goes back to fuel costs," she said.

"You certainly don't buy frivolous items like stereos, computers and jewelry," she said. "Let's hope the shutdown does get the attention of the politicians who keep giving tax breaks to oil companies while they turn around and rob the consumers blind, before we start to see some of our local family-owned businesses start closing the doors.

"Senator Obama's favorite word right now is 'change,'" she said. "Hey Senator, How about some change back from that $100 bill when I fill the tank on my pick up?"."

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« Last Edit: April 09, 2008, 10:19:03 AM by lester1/2jr » Logged
lester1/2jr
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« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2008, 10:23:14 AM »

Quote
Diesel this week was at an average just shy of $4 a gallon according to the American Trucking Association. If a trucker is filling up a 300-gallon semi, that bill could top $1,200
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odinn7
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« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2008, 05:56:00 PM »

No doubt...rising fuel costs are affecting everyone and everything. I have a feeling that a strike won't get much done. Nobody in power seems willing to do anything about this. It infuriates me when the oil companies are recording record profits (in the BILLIONS!) yet nobody in power seems to see a problem with this.

I don't say they don't deserve a profit but when you're talking billions, it's not a profit anymore...it's gouging. They cry about the high cost per barrel yet mathematically, it doesn't work out. After Katrina a few years ago, they cried about how plants and refineries were shut down and that was going to raise the cost of fuel....yet they record record profits for that quarter....I am guessing that it couldn't have affected them too terribly.

I know it isn't all this simple but the government could step in and do something about this. They could put a cap on it or something. They had the heads of all the oil companies in a meeting last week...for what? To investigate if they're gouging the public? Oh yes....I'm sure they'll find a lot there.  Lookingup They don't want to find anything....there is too much tax money involved in the cost of gasoline. So we will hear how an investigation was done and they found nothing wrong....but they tried.

It aggravates me really....the government seems to be so concerned that we'll all be HD compatible in the next few years...oh yes, it is a necessity for some reason....but who gives a s**t about the cost of fuel and food. Wait! oh yes....they will give us money in May to stimulate the economy! That will help so much! How about keep the f'ing money and do something about the cost of fuel if you really want to help the economy.

As evidenced by Ash's thread...people are feeling this all over....businesses are closing, people are losing their jobs...we're starting to come apart and it seems like nobody in power gives a s**t.
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lester1/2jr
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« Reply #3 on: April 10, 2008, 06:06:04 PM »

if we had

1. a strong dollar and
2.  less speculation about possible wars in the middle east


the prices would be much more manageable. 


when bush took office, oil was 26.67 a barrel. now it's 111.00.


a euro would cost you 80 cents, now it's 1.58! 


so, you've lost half of your purchasing power relative to the euro.




for those unclear on the concept=  inflation is not just when things cost more. 

the most basic definition is when they LITERALLY print more money.    this causes the money that is out there to be worht less and less.  The best way to think of it is another form of taxation.  except in this manner your money isn't even safe locked in a bank.
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